NYC & Company, New York City’s marketing, tourism and partnership organization, and São Paulo Turismo, São Paulo’s tourism board, today extended a cross-promotional agreement to boost travel between the two cities through 2013. As part of the agreement, which was originally signed in March 2011, both destinations will continue to exchange marketing, online, social media and communications assets as well as best practices in an effort to boost travel to their respective markets. Last year, New York City attracted an estimated 718,000 visitors from Brazil—a new record—ranking it as the City’s second-largest source of overseas visitors. Brazil is also now New York City’s top spending market, contributing $1.62 billion (USD) in spending in 2011. In conjunction with this partnership, American Airlines will offer a limited-time airfare of $998 (USD) valid for round-trip travel between New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU). The booking window begins today and continues through Monday, July 9; the travel period runs through December 15, 2012. NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta, São Paulo Turismo President Marcelo Rehder and American Airlines’ Director of Sales Marketing Dilson Vercosa made the announcement at the Andaz Wall Street in New York City.

“We continue to experience tremendous travel to New York City from Brazil, welcoming a record 718,000 visitors in 2011, and the market continues to hold its place as our top spending market,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “By extending our agreement today with São Paulo Turismo, we are reaffirming our commitment to actively develop and grow this market, and we thank São Paulo Turismo and American Airlines for once again serving as such great partners in this effort.”

“A partnership like this has a great value to São Paulo, as it shows new paths to the international promotion of the city and it increases its efficiency,” said Marcelo Rehder, president of São Paulo Turismo. “The US is a very important market to São Paulo. The first phase of this partnership has reached what we expected. We’ve noticed that the City of New York has some characteristics of São Paulo—what makes businessmen and tourists well adapted to the paulistano way of life. And they also get an extra prize—a taste of Brazilian culture.”

In keeping with the existing agreement, both destinations will exchange best practices, as well as a variety of communications, social media, online and marketing assets, to cross-promote visitation to their respective markets in key need periods. Both tourism sites will also feature information on each other’s city, as well as suggested itineraries on what to see and do.

“American Airlines is proud to be the premier airline to South America with more flights to more destinations from the United States than any other carrier,” said Tim Ahern, American’s Vice President – New York and International. “Our commitment can be seen in our investment in resources, routes and – most importantly – in our people.”

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American Airlines offers nonstop service to New York-JFK and São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro as well as connecting service to Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Manaus, Recife and Salvador. American Airlines has received authority from U.S. Department of Transportation to add 17 additional U.S. – Brazil weekly frequencies later this year. Pending approval from Brazilian authorities, American will increase its current service between JFK and São Paulo, as well as between Miami and Rio de Janeiro. American will operate a second JFK- São Paulo flight beginning Oct. 1; change its current Miami -Salvador- Recife round-robin service to separate Miami-Salvador and Miami-Recife nonstop flights five times per week; and add a second daily Miami – Rio de Janeiro flight beginning Dec. 15. In total, American offers nearly 800 weekly flights to more than 45 cities throughout Latin America, including Mexico, Central and South America.

Brazil is now New York City’s second-largest source of overseas visitors and top spending market. In 2011 New York City attracted 718,000 Brazilian residents, who spent an estimated $1.62 billion (USD), a new record. The top-ranked activities for these travelers included shopping, dining and cultural tourism. New York City welcomed a record-breaking estimated 50.6 million visitors, who contributed over $32 billion in direct spending. Tourism is the fifth-largest industry in New York City, supporting nearly 320,000 jobs across the City’s five boroughs. The City remains on track to meet a new tourism goal to attract 55 million visitors annually by 2015.

The US is the number-one market for Brazilian travel overseas; approximately 1.5 million Brazilians visited the country in 2011—26% more than in 2010. The US is the number one source of visitors for Sao Paulo.

NYC & Company has also created international city-to-city partnerships with London, Madrid and Seoul, as well as domestic partnerships with Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles to promote travel. São Paulo has also established agreements with other international markets in recent years, including Madrid and Shanghai.

Price shown is for round-trip Economy class travel between JFK and SAO PAULO Brazil (GRU) purchased on AA.com/ and are in USD. Price includes all taxes and fees. Reservations must be made at least 14 days prior to departure. Tickets must be purchased at least 14 days prior to departure or one day after reservations are made, whichever is earlier, but no later than midnight July 9, 2012. The travel period runs through December 15, 2012. The fare is nonrefundable/ nontransferable.

A Saturday-night stay minimum stay is required, and a 90 day maximum stay is allowed. Seats are limited and the fare may not be available on all flights. Fares and schedules are subject to change without notice. International fares are subject to government approval. See AA.com for complete details and conditions. Changes to your ticket may be made if you meet the restrictions of the new fare and pay up to a $200 change fee amount fee plus any fare difference. Changes must be made before your ticketed flight’s scheduled departure time. If you cancel your flight prior to scheduled departure time, the ticket will be valid for one year from the date of issue on an unused ticket or one year from travel origination on a partially used ticket. If you do not cancel your flight before departure time, the ticket has no value. Advertised prices are valid only on American Airlines, American Eagle, and AmericanConnection and do not apply to other codeshare flights.